Silence

 

I noticed the quiet

the no-beating

the no-knocking

quiet

 

and I knew

it had wandered

 

my red ryder pump

 

the one I keep

in the ivory cage

had gone

it was away

somewhere

 

so still now

no roar

no rhythm

no…

 

just a wander’en pump

gone

old beat up dog

slipping silently

head down following

the one loving hand

in a life of noise

in a life of fury

 

but

I understand

 

that cage was dark

lonely sanctum

and all must be well

really –

what good’s a pump

with no connections?

 

I REALLY want a Kindle 2. I really, really, want a Kindle 2. I know I want it waaaay too much. But nevertheless – I REALLY want one. The Kindle 2 is the latest version of Amazon’s electronic book. An incredibly thin device that stores up to 1,500 books and has a display about the size of a large paperback. The display is sharp and designed to mimic the paper look. Apparently it even reads well in sunlight.

 

I have over 450 books in my library at church (not to mention another 400 at home. They are wonderful and I love the feel and texture of books…but…we’re talking over 1,000 pounds of books that take up an incredible amount of space. I could have my whole library and room for more on one kindle. one. It has wireless connectivity to Amazon; Wikipedia and numerous other sites. You can load Word doc and PDF files onto it as well which would be really handy for preaching (see – I am building a business case).

 

Also – the cost of purchasing a book for Kindle is significantly lower then standard books. I buy a number of books in a given year and the Kindle could lead to serious cost savings. It also saves on paper (envrionmentally friendly) and the book comes instantaneously via download; not mail.

 

I believe the Kindle has been a longtime coming and will revolutionize the publishing industry in a very good way. I hope to get one.

 

 

 

Cool. My application to become a Thomas Nelson Book Review blogger has been approved. It sounds like I just joined some cereal box kids club and my decoder ring is on the way. Actually I will periodically receive a book (gratis) and I have committed to read and publish a review on my blog and on a retail book seller’s website.

 

The first book I will be reviewing (when it arrives) is – This is Your Brain on Joy, by Dr. Earl Henslin. Stay tuned for the review.

 

I am confused.

 

A story that is making big headlines in the US has confounded me. It is the story of a court case in which a doctor is on trial because his clinic performed a "live birth abortion". http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/02/06/florida.abortion/index.html .

 

What in the world is a live birth abortion? As I read the articles it becomes clear that a woman went into an abortion clinic to have an abortion (at 23 weeks) and while there her baby was born. After the baby was born the staff place the baby in a plastic bag, while it was moving, while it was breathing, while it was alive, where it slowly and no doubt agonizingly suffocated to death. The official autopsy report confirms this.

 

So – why in the world is this being refered to as a "live birth abortion" when it seems clear that it was murder – even by our culture’s crazy standards? In some ways my cynical nature suspects this to be a case of doublespeak. Doublespeak, according to Wikipedia "(sometimes called doubletalk) is language constructed to disguise or distort its actual meaning, often resulting in a communication bypass."

 

I mean if we can call the killing of a living human being, outside of the womb, a "live birth abortion" we may as well erase the word ‘murder’ from our vocabulary and use the word ‘live abortion’ for the killing of any human being. Prisoners facing the death penalty would not be executed – they would simply face ‘penal abortion’.

 

I find it disturbing and interesting that we cannot bring ourselves to use the word murder, even when it is obvious, because murder is loaded with ethical and moral meaning and content that makes us uncomfortable.

 

How sad. How cowardly.

 

Music has been making my world turn lately, hence the abundance of new bands I have been listening to. I was browsing through some articles on www.NME.com and found a few more I think are worth listening to:

 

– La Roux

– Ladytron

– Sky Larkin

– Pretty Girls Make Graves

 

The first two, La Roux and Ladytron sound like a real throwback to 80’s new wave (trust me I know). Sky Larkin is simply innovative and cool and Pretty Girls Make Graves is named after a line in an old Smith’s song. Of the four I’m not sure which one I like most…have lots more listening to do.

 

Take a walk

A walk away

A walk a ways away

And seek these hidden strands of light

These small shadows of joy

That define the solitary places

Closed eyes

That lead to the open road

The crisp

The barren

The empty

                    Open

                              Road

Where white and blue

Meet in mingled violence

Of newness

Stark and fresh

And even the dark places

Are washed in life

 

Well – here I am at our District Workers Prayer Retreat for the fourth year in a row. The wireless network is fitful and slow at best so I will keep this short. Suffice to say that once again they have found some amazing speakers. This morning a fellow by the name of Dave Collins spoke about the brokeness of traditional evangelicalism and the steps we need to take to reclaim a solid Biblical theism. Very powerful. Very solid. One of the best presentations I’ve ever heard.

 

Sadly I am alone up here. Paul, Ruth, Darren, Laurel and Corinna are here but in the main lodge. My room in the lodge had a heating issue so they put me in a chalet by myself (I know you don’t feel bad for me but that’s ok). So it’s just God and I in the evenings, which is the whole point of the retreat. Thankfully He doesn’t hog the bathroom and He’s a good listener. Keep me in your prayers as I seek His will – pray that I would hear Him when He speaks.

 

Anyhow – if I can keep you posted I will otherwise I will see you Friday.